Shoe-heel-concaving machine



Oct. 29,v 1935. -P. J. MUscHoNG Er AL 2,019,269

SHE HEEL CONCAVING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 2l, 1952 -IL/1li.

,07 fof/vir Oct. 29, 1935.

P. .1. MuscHoN@ Er AL SHOE HEEL CONCAVING MACHINE Filed March' 2l, 19325 Sheets-Sheet 2 SN Q www Get. 29, 1935. P. J. MUSCHONG Er AL SHOE HEELCONCAVING MACHINE Filed March 21,'1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct- 29, l935 P.J. MUscHoNG Er AL 2,019,269

SHOE HEEL CONCAVING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1932 5 Sheng-sheet 4 OC- 29,1935. P. J. MUscHoNG ETAL A 2,019,269

SHOE HEEL CONCAVING MACHINE Filed March 2l,` 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q rraf/vnf Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES I anni PATENT OFFIESHOE-HEEL-CONCAVING MACHINE ration of Delaware Application March 21,1932, Serial No. 600,198

35 Claims.

This invention relates generally to shoe-heel manufacture and has moreparticular reference to a machine for concaving heels for shoes and thelike.

Heretofore, so far as we are aware, the concaves or so-called cups ofheels for shoes and the like have been finished by means of a side-millor cutter against or to which the heel or work is manually fed bymanipulating the heel in inverted position on and over the cutter withan irregular movement suitable for grooving and forming the heel cup orconcave in the (inverted) heel-body.

It has also heretofore been the practice to employ for such heelconcaving purposes, so far as we are also aware, so-called side-mills orcutters whose cutting edges Work toward the edge of the concave with afrequently resulting defective product by reason of chipping orslivering of the concave-rim.

In commercial practice, moreover, it has been found that the operator,no matter how skillful he may be, is, of course, unable to approachuniformity in the performance of the yheel-grooving operation; hence itmay often occur that the rejects in this class of work will be as muchas thirty percentum (30%) of the operators output. Again, and of moreserious consequence, inevitably the necessarily close proximity of theoperators hand to the cutter results in hand-maiming accidents, so thatfew operators in the trade are free from maimed or injured fingers andhands.

Our invention has hence for its prime object the provision of aheel-concaving machine for automatically feeding a heel to and from aheel concaving or cup-grooving cutter for both improving the rate andquality of production of concaved-heels and for substantiallyeliminating the dangers of the heel concaving operation as heretoforepracticed.

Our invention has for another object the provision of a heel-concavingmachine embodying a cutter of the vertical or end-mill type having itscutting edge working from the rim of the concave towards the centerthereof for substantially avoiding slivering and chipping of theheel-lim during the production of concaved-heels.

And with the above and other objects in view, our invention resides inthe novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combinaltionof parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (5 sheets) Figure 1 is ,a front elevationalview, partly broken away and in section, of a shoe-heel-concav- Aingmachine embodying our invention, taken ap- (Cl. 12d-46) proximatelyalong the line |-I, Figure 3, the machine being shown in position foradvancing or feeding a heel to the cutter;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the machine, the lower portion ofthe frame being bro- 5 ken away;

Figure 3 is a top plan partly sectional view of the machine, takenapproximately along the line 3 3, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmental top plan 10 view of the indexingmechanism of the machine shown as at the end of its indexing movement,the normal position thereof being indicated by dotdash lines;

Figure 5 is a fragmental vertical longitudinal 15 f;

sectional view of the machine, taken approximately along the line 5-5,Figure 3, the extreme rear and lower portions of the machine beingbroken away;

Figure 6 is a fragmental vertical transverse 205A sectional view of themachine, showing the heelconcaving cutter in operation for forming aheelconcave, the heel-holding chuck and parts cooperating therewithbeing sectionally shown and other parts omitted; l

Figure 7 is a top plan view, partly broken away and in section, of thecarriage of the machine, the work-table being omitted, and the carriageshown in rearwardly shifted heel-feeding position; 30 L Figure 8 is afragmental vertical sectional view through the toggle mechanism of oneof the heelchucks of the machine, taken approximately along the line8--8`, Figure 3; and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating 35- vthe path of the cutterwith respect to the heel for grooving the concave therein.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to thedrawings, which illustrate av preferred embodiment of our invention, thema- 40 rounded nose or point-bearing, as best seen in V- Figures 1 and2.

Supported for universal horizontal movement slidably on thepoint-bearings 2, is a reciprocable carriage B comprising a relativelyfiat horizontal plate or body-member provided near its front marginwitha pair of concentric inner and outer circular heel-supports in theform of annular raised-ribs 3, 4, respectively, the centers of the ribs3, 4, coinciding with the axis of a fixed stud or pintle 5 suitablythreaded into, and upstanding from, the approximate forward centralportion of the carriage B, as best seen in Figure 7.

Axially journaled on a collar 6 of the pintle 5, is an approximatelycircular indexing-table or work-support C supported by, and for rotatoryor circular sliding movement on, the raised annular ribs 3, 4, of thecarriage B, as best seen in Figure 5.

Mounted on the table C, is an indexing-mechanism D, which includes anannular series of pillars or posts 'I upstanding from the table C forsuitably supporting a horizontal ratchet hubplate 8 carrying a verticalstud 9 disposed in the axis of, and for rotation with, the table C.Spaced from, and likewise adapted for rotation with, the plate 8, is aratchet-wheel Ill preferably, for structural reasons, seated on a collarII of the stud 9, a suitable cap I2 being threaded on the Stud 9 forretaining the ratchet I0 thereon.

The ratchet I0 is provided with a series of, preferably four,circumferentially spaced ratchetteeth I3 engageable successively by andwith a pawl I4 pivotally, as at I5, mounted on a pawl.

plate I6 journaled or bushed on the stud-collar II for oscillatorymovement between the hubplate 8 and the ratchet I8. The pawl I4 includesan arm engaged by a spring I'I supported from the plate I6 for normallybiasing the pawl I4 against the toothed periphery of the ratchet I9, asbest seen in Figures 4 and 5, whereby, as will be understood,oscillation of the pawl-plate I6 results in engagement of the pawl I4successively with the respective teeth I3.

To the free or outer end of the pawl-plate I6, is pivoted one end of alink I8 having in its other end a so-called lost-motion slot I9, inwhich works a block or slide 2D carried on a crank-pin 2I of a crank 22mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft 23 journaled in respectiveupper and lower bearings 24 mounted, in turn, on a vertical member 25projecting from the frame of the machine, all as best seen in Figure 4.The shaft 23, at its lower end, carries a gear 26 meshing with a pinion2l mounted on the vertical shaft of a speed-reducer 28 driven by a motor29, all said parts being supported in any suitable manner by and on theframe of the machine, as will be understood, whereby each revolution ofthe shaft 23 serves for intermittent step by step partial rotatorymovement or, in the present instance, one-quarter revolution, of theindexingtable C for a purpose presently appearing.

Mounted on the under face of the indexing table C, is a plurality ofheel-gripping chucks E. In the present instance, four of the chucks Eare arranged on, and adjacent the periphery of, the table C inquadrature or 90 degrees circumferentially apart, as best seen` inFigure 3, each chuck E including a. pair of spaced levers 38 pivoted forswingable movement on respective upstanding studs or pintles 3|.

Supported rockably, as at 32, from the respective outer ends of thelevers 30, is a pair of opposed jaws 33 each having an arcuate faceprovided adjacent its lower margin with a longitudinal notch or channel34 for gripping engagement with the marginal lateral portion or `rim 35of a heel G, as will presently more fully appear, the jaws 33 dependingfrom the levers 3D for heelgripping movement in suitably shapedapertures or pockets 36 provided in the periphery of the table C, asbest seen in Figures 3 and 6.

The heel G, for chuck-gripping purposes, is initially in invertedposition disposed upon the portions of the tracks 3, 4, exposed throughthe 5 apertures 36 for alignment of the heel-rim 35 with the jaw-notches34 and with the breast of the heel facing front-wise for positioning thetoe or shank lip of the heel G radially-outwardly with respect to theaxis of the table C, 10 the heel being brought outwardly for engagementof its breast with the rear or inner face of a plate 3'I havingdepending lateral guide-flanges 38 slidably engaging corresponding ways39 in a bracket 40 projecting radially from the periph- 15 ery of thetable C. The plater 3'I is provided with a longitudinal slot 4I workingover the shank of a suitable fastening element or thumb-screw 42threaded into the bracket 4B, whereby the inner face of the plate 3l maybe gauged or ad- 20 justed to the desired radial distance from thetable-center suitable for the proper operation of the machine upondifferent sizes and shapes of heels, as presently appearing.

At their respective inner ends, the levers 30 of 25 each chuck E are'suitably bifurcated for respective pivoted connection, as by a stud 43,with a pair of toggle-links 44 having knuckled pivoted connection, as at45, in the bifurcated end of, and with, a block 46 slidably mounted forradial re- 30 ciprocation in opposed parallel ways 41 mounted suitablyfor such purpose upon the upper side of the table C, as best seen inFigures 3 and 8, whereby, on outward movement of the block 46, thetoggle-links 44 are extended for gripping the 35 jaws 33 on the heel Gand, reversely, on inward movement of the block 46, the jaws 33 arereleased from the heel.

At its inner end, the block 46 is suitably chambered for slidablyreceiving a cam-follower or 40 plunger 48 resiliently supported in theblock 46 by melans of a suitable spring or compression member 49 forendwise yielding sliding engagement with a fixed edge cam 50 mounted onthe stud 5, the cam 50 including a rising or jaw-clos- 45 ing portiona., a heel-gripping or holding dwell b,

a falling or jaw-opening portion c, and a rest or jaw-released portion dmerging into the rise a, each preferably approximately encompassing 90degrees of the periphery of the cam 59, as best 50 seen in Figures 3 and5.

The plungers 48 are normally biased on the cam 50 in jaw-openingdirection by means of a spring 5I engaged between the lever studs 43,which, for such purpose, project above the plane 55 of the levers 30, asbest seen in Figure 8, whereby, on step-by-step rotation of the table C,the plungers 48 of the respective chucks E are yieldingly incam-circumferential movement engaged with the successive cam-portions w,b, c, d, for 60 reciprocation of the respective blocks 45 for, in turn,actuating the toggle-links 44 for correspondingly swinging thechuck-levers 3E) for, likewise in turn, opening and closing the jaws 33,as best seen in Figure 3, the levers 38, in their 65 described movement,also disposing the respective chuck-gripped heels centrally on thecorresponding diametrical axes of the table -C.

Thus, in sequence, each particular plunger 48 is actuated by the cam 50for, firstly, through and by yielding co-operation of the spring 49,shifting the block 46 outwardly for closing the chuck E on the heel G,when the plunger 48 engages the rising cam-portion a, then, secondly,for maintaining the chuck E in heel-gripping position, when the plunger48 is on the cam-portion b, then, thirdly, for releasing the chuck Efrom the heel G, when the plunger 48 is on the camportion c, and,finally, for maintaining the chuck E in open-heel-receptive position,while the plunger 48 is on the cam-portion d.

During a complete revolution of the table C, each chuck E thereofoccupies successively, during the rest-periods intervening between thestepby-step rotatory actuation of the table C, certain positions indexedwith relation to the carriage B and hereinafter designated as theheel-loading station I towards the front of the machine, theheel-chucking station II towards one side of the machine, theheel-grooving station III towards the rear of the machine, and theheel-unloading station IV towards the other side of the machine, as bestseen in Figure 3.

The table C is indexed for disposing the chucks E at such successivestations I, II, III, and IV, by means of a series of four notches 52equally spaced around the periphery of the table C and engagedsuccessively by a detent-pawl or latchlever 53 mounted, as at 5, foroscillation on the carriage B and having link-connection, as at 55, withthe free end of a dog 55 mounted, as at 56', for oscillation also on thecarriage B adjacent a side thereof.

The dog 56 carries a roller 5'! laterally projecting from the carriage Bfor, at certain presently appearing movements of the carriage B,engaging a trip or catch 58 pivoted, as at 59, on a bracket 60 supportedsuitably from the bed A. The trip 58 is biased by a spring 6l against astop 62 for trip-ping the dog 56 for releasing the detent 53 from thenotch 52 on forward movement of the dog 56 with the carriage B past thetrip 58, and for yielding to the dog 58 on ensuing rearward movement ofthe carriage B, as will presently appear. The dog 56 is engageable witha stop 63, and the detent 53 is biased for notchengagement by a springS, as best seen in Figures 3 and 7.

Disposed at the grooving-station III, is a heelcutting or concavingmechanism, which includes an axially vertical end-mill or cutter-head Hendwise projecting upwardly through an aperture 85 in the bed A into anelongated slot 66 in the carriage B in the longitudinal center linethereof, as best seen in Figure 7, for elfecting cutting operation inthe attaching face of a heel G disposed in inverted or upside-downposition at the station III, the cutter H being mounted on the upper endof, and rotatable by and with, a vertical shaft or spindle 61 journaledin suitable upper and lower bearings 68, 59, respectively, mountedsuitably on the fra-me of the machine. 'Ihe lower bearing 89, however,is of the closedend or so-called step-bearing type and is mounted forVertical adjustment in the machine, such adjustment being effected bymeans of a suitably provided take-up screw 19, as will be understoodfrom Figure 2, for varying the position of the cutter H in the slot 66above the horizontal plane or level of the heel-gripping notches 34, asbest seen in Figure 6, and the shaft 61 is equipped with a pulley Ilengaged by a belt 'l2 driven by a motor 13 for effecting cuttingactuation of the cutter H on a gripped heel G fed to the cutter I-I onrearward movement of the carriage B, as presently more particularlyappears.

At the beginning of the heel-concaving operation, however, the carriageB and its supported table C are in forwardly shifted position on the bedA for disposing the heel G at the station III in forwardly spacedrelation to the cutter I-I. For hence engaging the gripped heel G withthe cutter H, the carriage B is shifted in what we may designate anapproximately horse-shoe path, that is, in an oblique rearward andoutward movement merging into an arcuate transverse or cross-movement,in turn, merging into an oblique forward and inward movement for returnto the starting point, such travel of the carriage B occurring duringeach pause or indexed period of the table C, whereby the particular heelG disposed at the cutting station III is caused to traverse thecutter-head H for effecting concave-grooving co-operation thereof withthe heel in a horse-shoe or loop-like path, as best seen in Figure 9,for channelling or forming the concave 14 of the heel G, as will beunderstood from Figure 6.

For effecting such horse-shoe movement of the heel G on the cutter H,the carriage B is, in the first instance, reciprocated longitudinally onthe bed-plate A by means of a crank 'l5 having link-' connection, as at11, with the carriage B, the crank 18 being rotarily actuated by meansof a vertical shaft 18 journaled suitably in the frame of the machineand having driving connection, preferably by a chain-and-sprocketarrangement 'i9 with the shaft 23 for reciprocatory actuation of thecarriage B in synchronism with the table-indexing mechanism D, as bestseen in Figure 7.

Concurrently with the reciprocatory movement of the carriage B, the sameis laterally shifted rst toward one or the right-hand side of themachine (having reference to Figure 3), and then toward the other orleft-hand side of the machine, by a mechanism which includeslongitudinally aligned transversely spaced pairs of complementary edgeor plate cams 89, 8l, the pair of cams 88 being disposed on theright-hand side of the machine and the pair of cams 8l being disposed onthe left-hand side thereof.

The cams 89, 8l, are mounted on respective shafts 82 upstanding forrotation in the bed-plate A of the machine, and the shafts 82 carryrespective sprockets 83 engaged by an endless belt or chain 84, asshown, the belt or chain 85 being likewise trained over adriving-sprocket 85 mounted suitably on the crank-shaft 18, whereby thecams 89, 8|, are driven in unison with the shaft 18, as best seen inFigures 5 and 7.

Each of the cams 80, 8l, includes a dwell-portion c, a lift-portion f,and a fall-portion g'` merging into the dwell e, the pair of cams 88being opposite hand to the pair of cams 8l and the latter being in lag,operatively speaking, by 99 degrecs or at right-angles to the cams 85.Depending from the carriage B adjacent to, and for cooperation with, therespective pairs of opposite cams 88, 8l, are also respective pairs oftransversely spaced cam-blocks 85, 87, having parallel cam-engagingfaces 88. It will be understood that, when the blocks 88 at theirrespective faces 88 engage the fall g of the adjacent cams 89, theblocks 8l at their respective faces 89 engage the lift of the oppositecams 8l, and vice-Versa, as will be readily understood from Figure7,'the pairs of opposing blocks 86, 8l, having thus, as may be said,constant diametrical relationship with respect to the correspondingpairs of opposite cams 89, 8|.

The blocks 88 and 81 on their respective outer sides are formed withirregularly shaped camfaces 89, 99, respectively co-operable with alsorespective rollers 9|, 92, journalled for such purpose on thecarriage-supporting pins 2, the cams` 80, 8|, being preferably disposedopposite the respective rollers 9|, 92 for engaging the blocks 86, 81,therebetween. The cam-faces 89 are opposite hand to the cam-faces 98,both cams 89, 9|), being formed in suitably complementary shape to, andfor roller-guided fro-operation with, the cams 88, 8|, respectively.

Each of the cam-faces 89 includes a fall h for engaging a roller 9| whenthe lift f of a cam 88 is advancing on the block 86 and a lift orinoline lc for engaging a roller 9| as a cam 80 retracts its lift f, thelift 7c merging into a parallel or straight portion m for engaging theroller 9| as the cam 8D engages its dwell e with a block 86, as bestseen in Figure 3, the block 86, however, being disengaged from itsroller 9| when the caml B8 opposes its fall y to the block, as best seenin Figure 7.

The blocks 81 co-operate with the cams 8| and rollers 92 in a similar,but reverse, manner, both pairs of blocks 88, 81, however, engagingtheir straight portions m with the respective rollers 9|, 92, forcentralizing the carriage B on the bed A when the carriage B is in itsforward noncutting position for ensuing indexing movement of the table Con the carriage B, as presently appearing.

In use and operation, initially the plates 31 are set or adjustedsuitably to the longitudinal dimensions of the particular heels, asdescribed, and the cutter-head H is, by manipulation of thecutter-spindle lifting-screw 18, adjusted relatively to the concavingdatum plane provided by the jaw-notches 34 to the depth of the concaveto be made in the heels.

In Figure 3 is illustrated the relative positions of the parts of themachine at the conclusion of the table-indexing movement thereof, thecarriage B being then in partially rearwardly shifted position, at whichtime the chuck E at the station I is in opened heel-receptive position,the chuck E at the station II is in closed heel-gripping position, thechuck E at the station III is also in closed heel-gripping position, butdisposed or retracted forwardly from the cutter H, and the chuck E atthe station IV is in opened heel-releasing position.

The detent 53 likewise is engaged with an indexing notch 52 and the dog58 is disposed forwardly of, and released from, the catch 58 forindexing the table C on the carriage B, all as shown in Figure 3, andthe pawl-and-ratchet mechanism D is at the terminus of itstable-rotating stroke, as shown in Figure 4.

The parts being in such described positions, the rst particular heel Gto be concaved is deposited or loaded in the particular chuck E thendisposed at the loading station I, the operator grasping the to-p liftportion of the heel with the breast of the heel frontwise presented, andthen, by forwardly inclining the heel, inserting the shank lip of theheel downwardly under the positioning plate 31 for resting the heel G onthe heelsupports 3, 4, in the pocket 36. As has been stated, an intervalof time elapses between each indexing movement of the table, duringwhich respective intervals the carriage B and table C are reciprocatedlon the bed A approximately in the diametrical plane of the cutter H forheelconcaving purposes, as will presently more fully appear. Thus ampletime is permitted or allowed the operator for safely placing theparticular heels in position for chuck engagement.

At the next ensuing indexing movement of the table C, the operatorshifts the heel to bear at its breast on the plate 31 for radiallypositioning the heel in the particular chuck E and continues to so h oldsaid heel G in said chuck during the indexing movement of the table, thejaws 33 then 5 approaching or closing upon the so-positioned heel. Assoon then, in the operation of the machine, as the heel is grippedbetween the jaws 33, the operator releases his hand from the heel, atabout which time the heel has reached the 10 heel-gripping position IIof the machine.

Then on the next succeeding indexing movement of the table C, the sogripped heel G is shifted to the concaving station III, and the machinenow automatically manipulates said heel 15 for feeding the sameradially, as it may be said, to and from the cutter H. It will thus beseen that at all times during heel concaving operations, the hand of theoperator is remote, and in fact on the opposite side of the machine,from the 20 cutter H, as will be clearly understood from Figure 3, thuswholly obviating the possibility of dangerous proximity of the operatorshand to the cutter.

During each heel-concaving operation of the 25 machine, the carriage Bis shifted rearwardly on the bed A by means of the crank 16 and link 11.Concurrently with such carriage movement, the cams 88 advance theirlifts f on the cam-blocks 86 for shifting the carriage B laterally toone or the 30 right hand side of the machine, reference being had toFigure 3. At the same time, the opposite cam-blocks 81 are drawn uponthe falls g of the cams 8| and depart, as has been described, from theirrollers 92, the rearward movement of the 35 carriage B meanwhilesuccessively disposing the inclines k and falls h of the block faces 89opposite to their rollers 9|.

As the cams 88, during their carriage-shifting rotation, recede,however, from the blocks 86, 40 the opposite pair of cams 8| advancetheir lifts f upon the blocks 81, and the falls h of the camfaces 90being now opposite their rollers 92, the carriage B is reverselylaterally shifted toward the left-hand side of the machine, the blocks86 45 departing from their rollers 9|, as best seen in Figure '1.

Meanwhile the crank 16 moves past its rear dead center for returning thecarriage B in forward direction, and, the cams 8| correspondingly 50rotarily receding from the blocks 81, the rollers 92 successively engagethe inclines lc and straightportions m of the cam-faces 99 forcentralizing the carriage B on the bed A, the opposite rollers 9|meanwhile engaging the portions m of the 55 cam-faces 89, whereby theblocks 86, 81, are again engaged between the cams 80, 8|, and rollers9|, 92, respectively.

Meanwhile, further, the cutter H, being rapidly rotated by its spindle61, grooves a channel 6() or concave 14 in the heel G, as seen in Figure6. Figure 9 illustrates diagrammatically the path of the cutter H withrespect to the particular heel G, it being borne in mind that actuallythe axis of the cutter H is stationary and that the heel G 65 movesrelatively thereto. In such diagram, p represents the position of thecutter H when the carriage B is in extreme forward central position, andr represents the position of the cutter H when the carriage B is inintermediately rearwardly 70 shifted position preparatory to feeding theheel G to the cutter H. Similarly, the position of the cutter H isrepresented at s when the carriage B is in extreme right-hand shiftedposition, at t when the carriage B is in extreme rear central 75position, and at u when the carriage B is in extreme left-hand shiftedposition, the approximate path of the axis of the cutter H for groovingthe concave 74 in the heel G being indicated by the line r-s-t--u-r,which path, as will be seen, is substantially parallel with the rim ofthe heel.

As clearly shown in Figure 9, the direction of rotation of the end millor cutter H is such that its respective cutting edges 93 advance towardthe uncut portions of the heel-body for effecting inward cutting actionfrom the heel-rim 35 approximately toward the middle of the concave 14,whereby the cutting-thrust is directed toward the solid uncut portionsof the heel-body rather than toward the relatively thin and fragileheelrim or edge 35 of the heel G, as has heretofore,

so far as we are aware, been the practice, Thus our machine, in cuttingthe concave 14, substantially eliminates breakage and chipping of theheel-rim 35, with resulting improvement in the quality of the product ofthe machine.

In the meantime, in its rearward movement, the carriage B carries thedog 56 past the catch 58, the latter swinging on its pivot 59- underyielding tension of the spring 6|, and the parts then appearing as shownin Figure 7. However, on now occurring forward movement of the carriageB, the dog 56 engages its roller 51 with the catch 58, which, impingingagainst the stop 62, actuates the dog 56 for, through the link 55,swinging the latch-detent 53 for disengaging the same from its engagednotch 52 in the table C.

The table C being thus unlatched, a concaving operation being completed,the now-concavedheel G being, on the forward movement of the carriage B,forwardly shifted and cleared from the cutter H, as indicated at 1' inFigure 9, and the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism D having in the interimmoved to the position shown by dotdash lines in Figure 4, the table C isrotarily indexed a quarter-turn as the mechanism D moves from dot-dashposition to full-line position, as shown Vin Figure 4, the carriage Bmeanwhile moving to extreme forward position and partially rearwardlytherefrom approximately along the path r-p-r of Figure 9.

The forward movement of the carriage B carries the dog 56 past the catch58, `whereby the detent 53 is, by the spring 64, biased on the rim ofthe table C for, on rotation thereof, entering the next successive notch52 therein for, in turn, latching the table C in its newly indexedposition, the concaved-heel G being shifted to the unloading station IVfor removal from the machine, preferably after another heel has beendeposited in the machine at the loading station I, as seen in Figure 3.

In practice, the contour of the concave 14 formed in the heel G may bevaried, by changing the shape or form of the cutter H and the tableactuating cams, from the type shown in Figures 6 and 7, wherein a slightridge existsalong the medial line of the concave, to .a type of concavehaving a flat-bottom with more or less abruptly curved sides for mostconveniently fitting the skived outsole of the shoe, as will beunderstood by those skilled in the art.

In an analogous manner, different sizes of heels may be run on themachine by simply changing the cutter H, a cutter of large-diameterbeing employed for a large heel, and a smaller diameter cutter for asmaller heel, advantage being taken of the fact that, in theheel-manufacture art as at present practiced, the plan-contours of heelsof different sizes form an homologous series.

The depth of the concave 14 in the heel is regulated by elevating orlowering the cutter H relatively to the plane of the jaw-notches 34, inwhich latter the heel-rim 315 is gripped, and

which, as may be said, thus establish the datum- 5 .plane for the work.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 6, a guard 94 embracing the cutter Hdepends in rearwardly disposed position from the carriage B for chute-Wise delivering the shavings resulting from the 10 concaving operations.

As will be understood from Figure 3, the operation of the machine is ofa continuous nature. After each indexing movement of the table C, forexample, the concaved heel is removed from the 15 station IV and anuncut heel deposited in the machine at the station I, the successivestep-bystep movement of the table C serving to bring the deposited heelsone at a time to the concaving station III for operation of the cutter Hon 20 the particular heel. And it will be seen that, inasmuch as theoperators hand is at all times wholly remote from the cutter H, as hasbeen said, the speed of operation may with perfect eiiciency and safetybe at a highly productive and 25 economical rate.

It will be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of ourheelconcaving machine may be made and substituted 30 for those hereinshown and described without departing from the nature and principles ofour invention.

Having thus described our invention what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is- 35 1. A heel-concaving machine including a cutter,in combination with a chuck comprising opposingly swingable jaw-carryinglevers, a togglelinkage connecting the levers, a block having shiftabletoggle-knuckling co-operation with the 40 linkage, and cam-meansco-operable with the block for actuating the levers and their carriedjaws for gripping a heel for holding the same during concaving operationof the machine.

2. A heel-concaving machine includinga cut- 45 ter, in combination witha chuck comprising opposingly swingable jaw-carrying levers, atogglelinkage connecting the levers, a block having shiftabletoggle-knuckling co-operation with the linkage, cam-means co-operablewith the block 50 for actuating the levers and their carried jaws forgripping a heel for holding the same during concaving operation of themachine, and tensional means for biasing the block on the cam forreversely actuating the levers and their carried jaws 55 for releasingthe heel.

3. A heel-concaving machine including a cutter, in combination with achuck comprising opposingly swingable jaw-carrying levers, and means foractuating the levers and their carried 60 jaws for gripping a heel forholding the same during concaving operation of the machine, said meansincluding a toggle-mechanism, a cam, and a yielding connection betweenthe toggle-mechanism and the cam.

4. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a cutter, ashiftable carriage, a table mounted for rotation on the carriage, aseries of circumferentially spaced heel-gripping chucks on the table,and means for effecting step- 70 by-step rotation of the table fordisposing the respective chucks successively in position for, onshifting movement of the carriage, feeding a chuck-gripped heel to andfrom the cutter.

5'. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in 75 combination, a cutter,`acarriage shiftable relatively to the cutter, a table, a series ofcircumferentially spaced heel-gripping chucks on the table, the tablebeing mounted for step-by-step 'rotation on the carriage for disposingthe respective chucks successively in position for engagement of agripped heel with the cutter, and mechanism for shifting the carriagefor feeding a table-positioned heel to and from the cutter.

6. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a cutter, areciprocable carriage, a rotary table mounted on the carriage, a seriesof circumferentially spaced heel-gripping chucks on the table, means forrotating the table for disposing the respective chucks successively inposition for engagement of a chuck-carried heel with the cutter, andmeans for reciprocating the carriage for feeding the table-positionedheel to and from thecutter in synchronism with the tablerotating means.

7. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a cutter, aframe, la carriage reciprocable on the frame, a'heel-carrying tablerotatable on the carriage, detent means for latching the table to thecarriage, and means including a dog for releasably actuating said detentand a catch on the frame for, on reciprocation of the carriage,actuating the dog for releasing the table for rotation thereof on thecarriage.

8. A heel-concaving machine including, in combination, an axiallyvertically disposed endmill, and a chuck comprising opposingly shiftablejaws engageable` with the upper rim of a heel for holding the heel ininverted position over and with its attaching face presented to the millduring a concaving operation of the machine.

9. A heel-concaving machine including, in combination, an axiallyvertically disposed endmill, and a chuck comprising opposingly shiftablejaws having longitudinal grooves adjacent their lower margin engageablewith the upper rim of a heel for holding the heel in inverted positionover and with its attaching face presented to the mill during aconcaving operation of the machine.

10. A heel-concaving machine including, in combination, an axiallyvertically disposed end- 'mill, a chuck comprising co-operable shiftablejaws for gripping a heel at its upper rim, and means for actuating thejaws for gripping the heel rimwise for holding the same in invertedposition over, and with its attaching face presented to, the mill duringa concaving operation of the machine.

11. A heel-concaving machine including, in combination, an axiallyvertically disposed endmill, a chuck comprising opposingly swingablelevers, grooved jaws on the levers for gripping a heel rimwise, a springhaving connection with the levers for normally biasing the jaws intoopen position, and means for actuating the levers for yieldingly closingthe jaws for gripping the heel rimwise for holding the same in invertedposition over, and with its attaching-face presented to, the mill diuinga concaving operation of the 'machine 12. A heel-concaving machineincluding, in

"combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, a chuck comprisingco-operable shiftable jaws for gripping a heel rimwise, means fornorvmally'biasing the jaws into open position, and

over, wand. with its attaching face upresented to,

the mill during a concaving operation of the machine.

13. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in

combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, and means includinga table axially rotatable and bodily shiftable with respect to the millfor automatically feeding a series of heels respectively at successiveintervals to, over, and from n the mill. 10 14. A heel-concaving machinecomprising, in combination, an axially vertically disposed endmill, atable movable in a plane disposed at right angles to the vertical axisof'the mill, an annular series of heel-gripping chucks on the table, andmechanism for axially rotating and bodily shifting the table withrespect to the mill for successively disposing the gripped heels overthe mill.

15. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an axiallyvertically disposed endmill, a carriage shiftably movable in a planedisposed at right angles to the vertical axis of the mill, a tablemounted for shiftable movement p with, and being also axially rotatablerelatively to, the carriage, an annular series of heel-gripping chuckson the table, and mechanism for bodily shifting the carriage and tableand axially rotating the table with respect to the mill for successivelydisposing the gripped heels over the mill.

16. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a slottedshiftable carriage, an axially vertically disposed end-mill projectingup- A v wardly in the slot of the carriage, a rotary table on thecarriage, an annular series of chucks on the table for engagement withthe rim of respective inverted heels, and means for synchronouslyshifting the carriage and actuating the table for successively disposingthe gripped heels over, and with their respective attaching facespresented to, the mill.

17. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an axiallyvertically disposed endmill, a table movable in a plane disposed atright angles to the vertical axis of the mill, a heel-gripping chuck onthe table, and means for both automatically actuating the chuck forgripping a heel and moving the table with respect to the mill for y Kdisposing the gripped heel over the mill.

18. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an axiallyvertically disposed endrnill, a. stationary edge-cam in spaced relationto the mill, a shiftable table revolvable about the Y cam, jaws on thetable co-operable for gripping a heel, means for rotarily actuating thetable, means actuable by the cam on revolution of the table foractuating the jaws for gripping a heel, and means for shifting the tablefor positioning g the gripped heel over the mill.

19. A heel-concaving machine including, in combination, an axiallyvertically disposed endmill, a peripherally apertured table, a chuckcomprising a pair of pivoted arms for grippingly engaging the oppositeside faces of a heel `for B5 holding the same in the aperture of thetable and over the mill, and means including a plate mounted on andco-operable with the table for engaging the breastof the heel at saidaperture for gaugingly locating the heel in the chuck for engagement bythe mill.

20. A heel-concaving machine including, in combination, an axiallyvertically disposed endmill, a peripherally apertured table, a chuckcomprising a pair of pivoted arms for grippingly engaging the oppositeside faces of a heel for holding the same in the aperture of the tableand over the mill, and means including a plate mounted for slidableadjustment on and co-operable With the table for engaging the breast ofthe heel at said aperture for gaugingly locating the heel in the chuckfor engagement by the cutter.

21. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an axiallyvertically disposed endmill, ashiftable table having aheel-accommodating peripheral aperture, a chuck operatively mounted onthe table for gripping a heel in said aperture, and mechanism foractuating the table for disposing the aperture about, and the grippedheel over, the mill.

22. A heel-concaving machinecomprising, in combination, an axiallyvertically disposed endmill, a shiftable rotary table having a series ofspaced heel-accommodating peripheral apertures, a series of chucksoperatively mounted on the table for gripping the heels in therespective apertures, and mechanism for intermittently actuating thetable for disposing the respective apertures successively about, and thegripped heels respectively over, the mill.

23. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an axiallyvertically disposed endmill, a table rotatably shiftable in a planeVdisposed at right angles to the vertical axis of the mill, the tablehaving a series of spaced heelaccommodating peripheral apertures, aseries of heel-gripping chucks operatively mounted on the table forgripping the heels in the respective'apertures, means for effectingstep-by-step rotation of the table for presenting the respectiveapertures successively toward the mill, and means for synchronouslyshifting the table for successively positioning the gripped heels overthe mill.

2li. A heel-ccncaving machine comprising, in combination, an axiallyvertically disposed endmill, a table rotatably shiftable in a planeright angularly disposed to the vertical axis of the mill, the tablehaving a series of spaced heel-accommodating peripheral apertures, aseries of heelgripping chucks operatively mounted on the table forgripping the heels in the respective apertures, means including apatvl-and-ratchet mechanism for eiecting step-by-step rotation of thetable for presenting the respective apertures successively toward themill, and means for synchronously shifting the table for successivelypositioning the gripped heels over the mill.

25. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an axiallyvertically disposed endmill, a carriage shiftable in a plane rightangularly disposed to the vertical axis of the mill, a table mounted forrotary movement on, and also shiftable With, the carriage, the tablehaving a series oi spaced heel-accommodating peripheral apertures, aseries of heel-gripping chucks 0peratively mounted on the table forgripping the heels in the respective apertures, means including apawi-and-ratchet mechanism for eiecting step-by-step rotation of thetable on the carriage for presenting the respective aperturessuccessively toward the mill, means normally biased for retaining thetable against rotary movement on the carriage, means for releasablyactuating said retaining-means for chuck-positioning rotation oi thetable on the carriage, and means for shiftthe carriage and its supportedtable for successively positioning the gripped heels over the mill.

26. A heel-concaving machine comprising an axially vertically disposedend-mill, in combination, `a frame, a shiftable peripherally-aper'-tured table disposed horizontally on the frame,

the table with its attaching face disposed for cutting engagement by themill, and means for shifting the table relatively to, and in a planedisposed at right angles to the vertical axis of, the mill for feedingthe supported heel to, traversingly over, and from the cutting-edge ofthe mill.

27. A heel-concaving machine comprising an axially vertically disposedend-mill, in combination, a frame, a shiitable peripherally-aperturedtable disposed horizontally on the frame, means shiftaole with the tablerelatively to the frame for supporting a heel in the aperture of thetable with its attaching face disposed for cutting engagement by themill, and means for shifting the table relatively to the mill and-in apath Wholly disposed at right angles to the vertical axis of the milland partially straight and partially of approximate horse-shoe shape forfeeding the supported heel to, traversingly over, and from the cuttingedge of the mill.

28. A heel-concaving machine comprising an axially vertically disposedend-mill, in combination, a frame, a shiftable peripherally-aperturedtable disposed horizontally on the frame, means shiftable with the tablerelatively to the frame for supporting a heel in the aperture of thetable with its attaching face disposed for cutting engagement by' themill, and means for shifting the table in a plane right-angularlydisposed to the vertical axis of the mill for feeding the supported heelto, traversingly over the cutting-edge of the mill in a curvilinear pathapproximately parallel with the rim of the heel, and then from the mill.

29. A heel-concaving` machine comprising, in combination, a slottedshiftable heel-supporting carriage, an end-mill axially verticallydisposed in the slot of the carriage, a heel-supporting table on' thecarriage, and mechanism for shifting the carriage and table with areciprocatory curvilinear movement forl correspondingly feeding asupported heel to, traversingly over, and from the cutting-edge of themill.

30. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a bed-plate, aslotted carriage shiftable on the bed-plate, an .end mill axiallyvertically disposed in the slot of the carriage, a table on thecarriage, a heel-gripping chuck on the table, and mechanism for shiftingthe carriage and table with a reciprocatory curvilinear movement overthe bed-plate for correspondingly feeding a gripped heel to,traversingly over, and from the cutting-edge of the cutter.

3l. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a bed-plate, aslotted carriage shiftable on the bed-plate, an end-mill axiallyVertically disposed in the slot of the carriage, a table on thecarriage, a heel-gripping chuck on the table, and mechanism including aplurality of cooperable cam-members for shifting the carriage and tablewith a reciprocatory curvilinear movement over the bed-plate forcorrespondingly feeding a gripped heel to, traversingly over, and fromthe cutting-edge of the cutter.

32. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a slottedshiftable heel-supporting carriage, an end mill axially verticallydisposed in the slot of the carriage, and mechanism for shifting thecarriage with a recip-rocatory ovaloid movement for correspondinglyfeeding a supported heel to, traversingly over, and from thecutting-edge of the mill, said mechanism includ-k 75 ing a pair ofspaced complementary cams and opposing cam-blocks on the carriage havingcamfollovving engagement with the cams and rollers on the bed-platehaving co-operation with the respective cam-blocks.

33. A heel-concaving machine comprising, inr

combination, a frame, a horizontal bed-plate on the frame', a bearingmounted for adjustment on the frame, an end-mill supported by andaxially vertically upstanding from the bearing, a carriage shiftable onthe bed-plate in a plane right-angularly disposed to the vertical axisof the mill, a peripherally-apertured table mounted on and vmovable withthe carriage, means on the table for supporting a heel in the aperturethereof with its attaching face presented for cutting engagement by themill, mechanism for shifting the carriage and table bodily for feedingthe supported heel to, traversingly over, and from the cutting edge ofthe mill, and means for adjusting the bearing for shifting the millrelatively to the table for regulating the depth of the concave to becut in the heel.

34. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, a frame, ahorizontal bed-plate on the frame, a bearing mounted for adjustment onthe frame, an end-rnill supported by and axially vertically upstandingfrom the bearing,

a carriage shiftable on the bed-plate in a plane right-angularlydisposed to the vertical axis of the mill, a peripherally-aperturedtable mounted on and movable with the carriage, means on the table forsupporting a heel in the aperture thereof and establishing a datum planefor concaving the attaching face of the heel, mechanism for shifting thecarriage and table bodily for feeding the supported heel to,traversingly over, and from the outing-edge of the mill, and means foradjusting the bearing for shifting the mill with respect to said planefor selectively varying the depth of the concave to be cut in the heel.

35. A heel-concaving machine comprising, in combination, an adjustableend-mill axially vertically disposed, a heel-supporting carriageshiftable for feeding a supported-heel to, traversingly over, and fromthe cutting-edge of the cutter, heel-gripping jaws on the carriagehaving notches for engaging the rim of a heel forv establishing a 20

